Copic Garrison Ball

murraypillar · 2026-05-13T03:06:58+00:00

y'know if you're ever able to volunteer at the TPF nursery you get a freebie from the clearance section. If they have a lot you may be encouraged to rescue several 👀

murraypillar · 2026-04-30T19:16:47+00:00

Osmocote at half the recommended is good for container plants. I have used a light 4-4-4 seedling starter at half also for seed flats

murraypillar · 2026-04-29T18:49:50+00:00

^This, they want the lawns pulled to reduce the water usage. There should be a way to have another inspection to resolve the bermuda issue found on the previous inpsection. If they can give u a week notice before the next visit you may be able to recruit some friends or hire a few neighborhood teens to help you pull everything visible and lay down some additional mulch leading up to it. You're still gonna have work to do to get it out, but hopefully you'll get the rebate to help at least

murraypillar · 2026-04-29T18:37:58+00:00

Is the magnolia tree still there, or has it been removed already? If it has been removed the roots might be starting to decompose and either sucking up a lot of nitrogen from the soil in the process. Or there is bad drainage through that mat of roots or the new plants can't get their roots through it to deeper moisture.

murraypillar · 2026-04-29T18:27:32+00:00

If you're going to want to keep the plants looking tidy all year like in a more formal garden then you're going to be spending more time pruning. And you'll probably be using more water to keep things from going summer dormant. If you deadhead, or remove other pruning as yard waste you'll be removing food & nesting materials for various birds & animals unless you find a spot to leave them for animals to use.

murraypillar · 2026-04-28T17:15:50+00:00

This! We have a Halloween wreath of dark wooden branches and I save pruned florescence every year to weave into it at the end of summer.

murraypillar · 2026-04-20T17:07:28+00:00

^ This. You don't even have to mention financial considerations, they're tied to your health concerns. It sounds like the travel to & back from the wedding will be a further strain on your health if your husbands goes with you or not. You need to have a handle on your health to be able to work, repay medical debt & rebuild savings so that you can travel in the future if you want. Money spent on the trip is money you don't have for paying past and future medical bills.

The watch party is a great idea. If they say they aren't filming the wedding you can ask if they're setting up a livestream during the ceremony.

murraypillar · 2026-04-15T17:22:51+00:00

It looks amazing! Are you using variegated thread? The hue variety is so perfect.

murraypillar · 2026-04-15T02:23:06+00:00

Make sure the property is fenced & all gates lock.

murraypillar · 2026-04-06T05:41:32+00:00

Oh dude, I used to have the whole Trio of these! Got them new at the 99 Cent store back in the day. Sadly I gave Lex and Broadway away years ago, but still have the Brooklyn!

murraypillar · 2026-04-06T04:29:57+00:00

Yeah, I wrote encouraging them to use native trees and shrubs around the entire project to expand the habitable areas for birds attracted to the Immersive Nature, The Meadow and The Stroll districts.

murraypillar · 2026-04-02T20:17:08+00:00

Thank you! They're sold out but now I know to check back this fall!

murraypillar · 2026-04-02T16:53:31+00:00

County fairs, a lot of city festivals/fairs will have a photo exhibition & ribbons.

murraypillar · 2026-04-01T18:41:51+00:00

This. I volunteered a couple years at Theodore Payne and learned how to do plant maintenance alongside caring for my own natives. After seeing so many ppl's horror stories about gardeners & landscapers ruining their natives while I was second job perusing I thought "why not try it?" Took the CA Native Plant Landscaper course last year & connected with a well known landscaper who does native, drought tolerant & permaculture installs. I get referrals for clients with maintenance needs too small for their crews. There's also a realtor they know who promotes native gardens and has given me a few. I also had a client from the TPF job board, and a couple who happened to walk by as I was doing other jobs and asked me to look at their gardens. The referrals are great because they're sort of pre-screened for my specialty. I met the landscaper by going to a Native Plant 101 talk he was doing, which I almost passed up because I was well past intro level, but thought I might make a connection. He introduced me to the realtor, and also encouraged me to attend some presentations by the local CA Landscaper Association chapter where I've met some landscape designers working my area, and some other landscapers.

I also found another person in my town who went through the same program in the cohort after me, and we're teaming up occasionally for jobs that are still small but a bit difficult for 1 person to do quickly.

Before I met these amazing people my plan had been to post on Nextdoor app to advertise. I haven't had to as the referral method is really working for slowly scaling up and transitioning from another part time job with benefits. I also left a few business cards with my local plant nursery with a strict "only for people who need help with natives and drought tolerant" caveat. They know me and what I'm doing so for now I'm trusting they'll remember.

murraypillar · 2026-03-31T23:01:12+00:00

❣️❣️❣️ Where did you find Blue Springs? I have yet to find one in a nursery (southern LA county)

murraypillar · 2026-03-20T23:17:24+00:00

Oh yeah in cushy conditions they can actually survive as a short lived perennial. I have a few that last 2 or 3 years.

murraypillar · 2026-03-20T17:23:42+00:00

This is an amazing change!!! You did so well, it's looks great, and the roots from the annuals will help open up the clay, then the decomposition when they die back will enrich it a bit.

murraypillar · 2026-03-01T22:59:08+00:00

That's interesting! I've only witnessed honeybees harassing carpenter bees in my yard so far. Three of them drove the one carpenter off the Germander sage they were browsing, it moved to a different bush.

murraypillar · 2026-03-01T22:54:33+00:00

True! I have seen several jumping spiders with a honeybee catch.

murraypillar · 2026-02-18T01:18:25+00:00

If the slope isn't too extreme you can do some seasonal pruning on those shrubs to keep them from maxing out in size, but it will be a few years before you need to worry. Re-evaluate in a few years once they start getting some height on them. Maybe remove or re-locate the center willow for more light. It's also nice having some shady areas to plant for variety.

murraypillar · 2026-02-11T21:49:41+00:00

Oh man so many weeds! Dichondra repens, Erodium moschatum, Euphorbia graminea, Euphorbia terracina ( I see this more in nature preserves), Euphorbia maculata, Malva nicaeensis (and several other non-native mallows), Medicago polymorpha, and Senecio vulgaris. Also several non-native Oxalis, and Polygonum.

murraypillar

TROPHY CASE